Yarn carrier for gripper axminster loom

ABSTRACT

A yarn carrier for a gripper Axminster loom having a flat base and a pair of spaced resilient side members. The yarn extends through an opening in the base and is held by the cooperating ends of the side members.

United States Patent Inventor John Alexander Charles Blaby, Leicestershire, England Appl No. 828,843 Filed May 29, 1969 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 Assignee Monsanto Textiles Limited London, England a British company YARN CARRIER FOR GRIPPER AXMINSTER 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 139/2, 242/ l 5 7 Int. Cl D03d 39/00 [50] Fieldof Search 139/2, 1, 10, 122; 66/l25;242/157 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,400,738 9/ 1 968 Fleischer et a]! 139/2 Primary Examiner-Henry S. Jaudom Attorneys-Robert L. Broad, Jr. and Roy P. Wymbs ABSTRACT: A yarn carrier for a gripper Axminster loom having a flat base and a pair of spaced resilient side members. The yarn extends through an opening in the base and is held by the cooperating ends of the side members.

PATENTED FEB 9197:

$561,495 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. J. A. CHARLES ATTORI'Z?) PATENTEU FEB 9 IQYI sum 2 0F 2 INVENTOR. J.A. CHARLES ATTORNEY YARN CARRIER FOR GRIPPER AXMINSTER LOOM This invention relates to a novel yarn carrier for use with gripper Axminster looms, and more particularly to such novel yarn carriers of improved efficiency for use with such gripper Axminster looms. In a typical Axminster loom of the gripper type, weft tufts of various colors of yarn are inserted in the fabric as it is woven according to a predetermined pattern by means of a jacquard patterning mechanism generally mounted above the loom proper. Gripper Axminster looms are fitted with jacquard which controls the supply of from 8 to 16 different yarns of different colors to each warp 'of the loom. These multiple yarns are controlled and supplied by yarn carriers in accordance with a pattern predetermined by means of a jacquard pattern card or other patterning device. The harness is raised or lowered in accordance with the requirements of the pattern and the individual yarn carrier carrying from 8 to 16 individual yarns is positioned so that the yarn gripper for the corresponding warp can grasp only one of the yarns for insertion in the fabric.

The yarn carriers or guides generally are fashioned so that each yarn is held in a bore or yarn carrier tube so that a short end of the yarn protrudes from the carrier to enable it to be grasped by the gripper. Unless this length of yarn protrudes straight out it can be missed by the gripper and as a result no tuft is inserted in the woven carpet at that point.

Thisproblem of missed tuftsis an acute one in Axminster carpet manufacture and results in a considerable expense in inspection and subsequent mending of the finished carpet to replace such missing tufts by hand mending. Furthermore, certain very desirable types of yarn such as hard twisted yarns are prone to be missed by an Axminster loom gripper because of the size and highly twisted character of such yarns. Consequently their use, which is very desirable for high quality, long wearing carpets, will generally result in a higher than normal frequency of missed tufts and consequent higher mending costs.

One object of this invention is to provide a yarn carrier or guide for gripper type Axminster looms which minimizes as far as possible the occurrence of missed tufts during weaving and the consequent additional expenses caused by the missed tufts. i I

Another object of this invention is to provide a yarn carrier or guide which holdsa yarn in position to be picked up by a gripper Axminster loom. I

According to the present invention a yarn carrier has been provided which incorporates, a yarn carrier tube or guide which comprises amounting plate with a circular bore, said mounting plate having two side members projecting normally therefrom, the said side members being adapted to guide a yarn passed between them so that the yarn is passed beyond the ends of the side members centered between them and the projecting end of the yarn is maintained normal to the plane of the mounting plate. Preferably the side members are also adapted to exert a binding plate on a yarn passed between them.

The novel yarn carrier tube of this invention can be manufactured from different materials to suitably fulfill its function. Preferably the side members which project in a horizontal plane are made of spring steel of a suitable gauge. Con veniently, the mounting plate or base is likewise made of steel, but it can be made of any desired material. When the side members are made of spring steel it'is also convenient, if

i desired, to provide for additional gripping means just forward of the mounting plate by causing tabs cut from each of the side members to project inwardly to grip a yarn passed between them.

The novel yarn carrier which incorporates the novel yarn carrier tubes can consist. of the generally available types of yarn carriers when suitably modified for inclusion of the yarn carrier tubes. Such modification will entail the provision of spacer blocks 'of suitable dimension to accommodate the yarn carrier tubes. The spacer blocks will require fixing to the side force just forward of the mounting blades of the yarn carrier by suitably sturd means. These may include rivets, screws, or, in the case of p astic spacer blocks, by molded pegs adapted to fit corresponding bores in the side blades. The yarn carrier of this invention can be manufactured from any desired materials to fulfill its function. Thus, the side blades may be of metal, preferably steel, or they may be of molded or machined plastic substances. Likewise, the spacer blocks may be manufactured of metal or they may be molded plastic materials or machined from suitable plastic stock. Preferably, the side blades will be of steel for sturdiness of construction while the spacer blocks can be formed from molded or machined plastic material. Such materials must, however, be suitable for boring for screws to mount the yarn carrier tubes or adapted for other suitable means for mounting said tubes.

FIG. I is a side view of the plate removed.

FIG. I1 is a perspective view of the yarn carrier tube adapted for mounting in the yarn carrier of FIG. 1.

FIG. III is a plan view of the yarn carrier tube of FIG. ll.

FIG. IV is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the yarn guide showing a yarn being gripped by the loom pickup mechanism, and

FIG. V is the view of FIG. IV showing the yarn being moved out of the end ofthc guide.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, there is shown a yarn carrier tube or guide 10 having a base I] which is provided with an aperture 12 through which a yarn is to be passed. The diameter of the opening 12 may be, for example, three thirtyseconds inch. A pair of resilient side members 13 are secured to the base 11 and extend therefrom in a spaced, substantially parallel relationship.

The outer ends 14 of the side members 13 are widened and bent into a W-shaped configuration. The bent ends 14 are turned inwardly on the side members 13 toward each other so that the W-shaped ends 14 touch each other in a back-to-back relationship to define therebetween a diamond-shaped opening 15. The outer portions of the ends 14 are in the forms of tabs 16 and 17 which are engaged by the Axminster loom mechanism (FIGS. IV and V) for separating the side members 13 and picking up the yarn extending through the aperture I2 and the diamond-shaped opening 15.

The side members 13 are also provided with tabs 19 which extend toward each other to engage opposite sides of the yarn to better hold the yarn in the desired position.

FIG. I shows a yarn carrier provided with spacer blocks 22 so positioned that therequired number ofyam guides I0 can be mounted in the yarn carrier. Clamping plates 23 and screws 24 are utilized to hold the guides 10 in place, the ends of the base 11 being clamped between the plate 23 and the spacer block 22. The spacer blocks 22 are secured to the carrier 21 in whatever manner convenient.

In operation, the yarn extends through the opening I2, between the tabs 19 and then extends through and protrudes through the diamond-shaped opening 15 in position to be picked up by the conventional loom mechanism. Gripper elements 27 and 28 of the loom pickup mechanism (not shown) cam the ends 14 apart and grip the yarn 29 as best shown in FIG. IV. The gripper elements 27 and .28 are then moved laterally to carry the yam 29 out of the-diamond-shaped opening and into position to be fed into the carpet by the loom.

I claim:

l. A yarn carrier comprising a flat plate having therein an opening for passage of a yarn, said plate having extending therefrom a pair of spaced side members, said side members terminating in ends turned toward and contacting each other, said ends being bent in such a manner that a diamond-shaped opening is defined therebetween for passage of a yarn.

2. The apparatus of claim I wherein the side members are provided with tabs which extend toward each other and cooperate to hold a yarn therebetween.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 where the ends of the side membets are each bent into a W-shaped configuration.

yarn carrier with the upper side 

1. A yarn carrier comprising a flat plate having therein an opening for passage of a yarn, said plate having extending therefrom a pair of spaced side members, said side members terminating in ends turned toward and contacting each other, said ends being bent in such a manner that a diamond-shaped opening is defined therebetween for passage of a yarn.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the side members are provided with tabs which extend toward each other and cooperate to hold a yarn therebetween.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 where the ends of the side members are each bent into a W-shaped configuration. 